Wednesday, 16 Jul 2014

Written Answers Nos. 171-180

Leader Programmes Funding

Ceisteanna (172)

Tom Fleming

Ceist:

172. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide information on Leader funding (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31875/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

In line with the ‘bottom-up’ approach to rural development, there are 35 Local Action Groups (LAGs) contracted, on my Department’s behalf, to deliver the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP) throughout the country. The LAGs are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding. In compliance with a European Court of Justice judgment, my Department has not been able to publish information in relation to personal beneficiaries under the LEADER programme and so only publishes details of payments to the Local Action Groups that administer the Programme. However, agreement has now been reached at EU level which will allow details to be published for the previous financial year. Therefore payments in respect of the 2014 EU financial year will be published in May 2015.

The following table details the level of project expenditure to date for each Local Action Group under the RDP from 2009 to June 2014. In the context of the next EU programming period 2014-2020 the continuation of the LEADER approach in rural areas is critical for the future development of rural Ireland. In this context it is the responsibility of my Department to ensure that all funding allocated under the LEADER elements of the RDP is compliant with the regulatory framework and is expended on the basis of sound financial management practices. My Department is currently working on developing the systems required to ensure that the funding is allocated and spent in the most effective way at a local level for the 2014-2020 period.

As outlined in the draft Rural Development Programme, which has been submitted to the European Commission and is available on my Department’s website at http://www.environ.ie/en/Community/RuralDevelopment/EURuralDevelopment/RuralDevelopmentProgrammeLEADER2014-2020/, it is intended that there will be a two-step Local Action Group selection process that will ensure that all entities interested in delivering a Local Development Strategy have the required capacity to do so. Once the strategy is in place, successful delivery entities will be required to put in place a series of systems outlined by my Department to support their effective and efficient delivery of the LEADER element of the RDP. These systems will include effective decision making practices to ensure that funding is targeted to maximise its impact. Transparent governance arrangements, sound financial management practices and comprehensive appeals mechanisms will also be required in order to support the efficient and effective delivery of LEADER interventions. These systems will be subject to on-going monitoring by my Department and other entities, including audit authorities, to ensure compliance. I intend that appropriate comprehensive management systems will be put in place to support the delivery of the LEADER elements of the RDP 2014-2020 in a manner that targeted, cost effective and efficient use of funding, maximising the benefit for rural communities.

Table

Local Action Group	Total Projects 2009	Total Projects 2010	Total Projects 2011	Total Projects 2012	Total Projects 2013	Total Projects 2014 to 30th June 2014	Total Project spend for 2009 -2014
Avondhu/ Blackwater Partnership Limited	€304,200	€1,025,095	€1,152,332	€904,082	€940,234	€199,006	€4,524,950
Ballyhoura Development Limited	€346,850	€1,334,148	€1,654,101	€1,805,196	€3,517,328	€1,375,370	€10,032,994
Carlow County Development Partnership	€169,933	€915,488	€1,005,953	€601,963	€936,687	€577,911	€4,207,935
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Cavan/ Monaghan Area Partnership Ltd.	€0	€741,389	€978,859	€1,229,963	€2,774,855	€910,850	€6,635,917
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Clare Local Development Company	€365,882	€1,121,263	€1,692,960	€1,808,750	€2,760,012	€1,790,288	€9,539,155
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Comhar na nOileán Teoranta	€55,480	€490,002	€325,191	€877,043	€1,816,567	€629,119	€4,193,403
Donegal Local Development Company Limited	€235,832	€722,485	€1,381,228	€2,002,820	€3,001,084	€1,434,973	€8,778,421
Fingal LEADER Partnership	€28,744	€250,813	€249,778	€222,881	€558,461	€268,457	€1,579,135
FORUM Connemara	€27,726	€473,782	€308,478	€998,204	€705,214	€308,004	€2,821,407
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Galway Rural Development Company Limited	€428,761	€1,118,616	€1,367,608	€1,587,409	€1,997,450	€608,051	€7,107,895
Inishowen Development Partnership	€273,649	€575,034	€891,214	€1,363,310	€2,077,104	€339,806	€5,520,118
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
I.R.D. Duhallow	€408,716	€1,162,108	€801,088	€1,732,726	€1,832,083	€818,086	€6,754,807
Cill Dara ar Aghaidh Teoranta	€44,166	€181,520	€878,195	€787,868	€2,651,707	€1,063,563	€5,607,018
Co Kilkenny LEADER Partnership Co Ltd	€180,073	€963,679	€1,310,810	€1,407,497	€1,783,784	€818,538	€6,464,381
Laois Community & Enterprise Development Co	€69,807	€753,202	€897,443	€910,298	€1,388,012	€1,294,132	€5,312,893
Leitrim Integrated Development Company	€253,189	€744,971	€766,240	€1,160,821	€2,738,009	€678,867	€6,342,096
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Longford Community Resources Limited	339,445	€542,357	€794,282	€724,978	€964,461	€856,332	€4,221,856
Louth LEADER Partnership	€150,327	€755,030	€686,842	€533,580	€1,133,495	€851,834	€4,111,109
Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Co Teo	€482,288	€1,058,289	€492,479	€670,739	€389,840	€112,837	€3,206,472
Meath Community Rural & Social Devel P/ship	€393,781	€696,330	€928,640	€779,465	€2,668,969	€352,351	€5,819,537
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta Teoranta	€149,236	€1,007,230	€841,042	€0	€0	€0	€1,997,508
North & East Kerry LEADER Partnership Teoranta	€225,432	€868,777	€681,363	€747,596	€1,809,178	€566,699	€4,899,045
North Tipperary LEADER Partnership Company	€0	€1,039,969	€1,461,058	€1,778,895	€2,173,165	€1,401,516	€7,854,604
Offaly Integrated Local Development Company	€303,092	€1,103,357	€982,782	€1,287,729	€2,761,289	€848,778	€7,287,027
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Roscommon Integrated Development Company	€288,509	€754,168	€1,231,572	€1,051,888	€1,671,134	€798,230	€5,795,501
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Sligo LEADER Partnership Co	€373,731	€1,647,747	€1,290,898	€1,043,306	€1,820,348	€305,567	€6,481,598
South & East Cork Area Development Limited	€234,007	€709,969	€1,400,410	€1,002,570	€1,882,707	€714,911	€5,944,574
South Kerry Development Partnership Limited	€327,908	€501,607	€730,264	€741,573	€1,930,936	€1,261,535	€5,493,823
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
South Tipperary Local Development Company	€98,253	€929,903	€1,198,824	€1,934,404	€3,526,389	€696,772	€8,384,545
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
South West Mayo Development Company	€375,140	€1,517,605	€1,190,233	€880,508	€1,726,230	€808,602	€6,498,317
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Waterford LEADER Partnership Limited	€175,792	€534,359	€1,579,726	€1,354,617	€2,917,077	€706,859	€7,268,430
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
West Cork Development Partnership Ltd	€146,587	€1,285,043	€1,236,727	€1,513,856	€2,828,817	€1,403,244	€8,414,274
West Limerick Resources Ltd	€204,590	€627,628	€555,690	€1,205,978	€2,095,488	€1,473,437	€6,162,812
Westmeath Community Development Ltd	€71,865	€618,482	€440,981	€1,066,940	€1,285,401	€671,267	€4,154,937
Wexford Local Development	€434,837	€1,195,499	€1,278,099	€1,146,937	€2,402,998	€1,748,818	€8,207,188
Co Wicklow Community Partnership	€233,618	€629,212	€788,690	€815,472	€1,680,474	€878,811	€5,026,277
Total	€8,201,445	€30,596,158	€35,452,082	€39,681,861	€69,146,989	€29,573,422	€212,651,958

Local Authority Housing Eligibility

Ceisteanna (173)

Arthur Spring

Ceist:

173. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 137 of 26 March 2014 if the medical circumstances of an applicant who is under the age of 66 may be taken into consideration by the local authority when assessing a request to have the priority assigned to the needed works changed to a different category. [31895/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Housing Aid for Older People Scheme (HAOP) provides grants of up to € 8,000 to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out to their homes. Grant eligible works include structural repairs or improvements, re-wiring, repairs to or replacement of windows and doors, provision of water supply and sanitary facilities, provision of heating, cleaning, painting etc.

Following a review of the scheme in 2013, the age limit for eligilibity under the HAOP was increased from 60 to 66 years. However, a lower age limit can apply at the discretion of the relevant local authority. On 10 March 2014, my Department circulated copies of the revised administrative guidelines for the HAOP to all local authorities. Section 2.1 states that where, in the opinion of the local authority, genuine cases of hardship exist the authority may consider the payment of a grant to individuals who are less than 66 years of age.

Question No. 174 answered with Question No. 164.

Local Authority Staff

Ceisteanna (175)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

175. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the following information regarding Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council which has not been made available by the chief executive of the said council despite the request being made by an elected councillor via a council question to the CEO at the council meeting of 7 July, the number of staff positions that are vacant; the number of vacant positions that have been filled in an acting capacity; if he will provide a list of positions vacant and the period of time for which they have been vacant; and if any vacancies have been filled by virtue of special circumstances. [31951/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service was introduced in March 2009 in response to the financial crisis. My Department operates a delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for implementation of the moratorium in relation to local authorities, and any exceptions to the moratorium in local authorities require sanction from my Department.

Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. In this regard, it is a matter for Chief Executives, in the first instance, to ensure that the moratorium is implemented while appropriate service levels are maintained.

My Department examines all staffing sanction requests on a case by case basis having due regard to the continued delivery of key services in the context of staffing and budgetary constraints. In considering sanction requests public safety, maintaining key front line services, and economic issues are given precedence. Since 1 January 2014, my Department has sanctioned 12 temporary lifeguard positions and 1 Cemetery Supervisor position at Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council as exceptions to the staffing moratorium. My Department does not co llect data on vacancies in the local government sector. However, my Department does gather quarterly data on staff numbers in local authorities including the numbers of acting arrangements. The number of staff on acting arrangements reported by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council on 30 June 2014 was 23.2 ( Whole Time Equivalent basis ).

NAMA Social Housing Provision

Ceisteanna (176)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

176. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of properties that were offered to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council by the National Asset Management Agency that were accepted; the number refused; the reason these properties were refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31954/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

321 units of accommodation were originally identified by NAMA in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown area as being potentially suitable for social housing. Following that initial identification, 142 units were subsequently confirmed as being unavailable while 49 were considered unsuitable by reference to sustainable planning and housing policy or were located in areas with no demand. By the end of June 2014, 77 units have been delivered (contracted or committed) for social housing use, with the local authority confirming a demand for the remaining 53 units.

Nationally, the overall total delivery of social housing from NAMA-sourced units has reached 736 units (completed or contracted), with a further 603 properties considered as being active transactions whereby terms are agreed or active negotiation is ongoing by all parties concerned or where a detailed appraisal (i.e. determining the most likely delivery mechanism) is being carried out. My Department continues to work closely and successfully with NAMA, the Housing Agency, local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies in relation to the delivery of social housing. Information in relation to the delivery of NAMA sourced units, including a full breakdown by county of units delivered by quarter, is available on the Housing Agency’s website: www.housing.ie/NAMA.

Residential Institutions Issues

Ceisteanna (177)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

177. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he and his Department have explored the possibility of the acquisition of further religious-held property under the terms of the residential institutions redress scheme as a means of addressing the current chronic shortage of social housing; if he will provide a full account of any such plans in this regard; the targets in terms of the number of units; and the timelines that have been set for the delivery of units through this approach. [31965/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

On 14 May 2014, the Government published Construction 2020 – A Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector. The Strategy contains 75 Actions in total and my Department, together with the Housing Agency, will be involved in the delivery of over 30 of those. Under Action 8 of Construction 2020, a Social Housing Strategy is to be published by Q3 2014; to assist in its development, the Housing Agency has invited submissions by 31 July 2014. Further information is available at the following weblink: http://www.housing.ie/News/Current-News/Invitation-for-Submissions-Preparation-of-a-Social.aspx. The approach to the delivery of social housing over the next five years will be set out in the Strategy and all practicable options will be considered in that context, in consultation with my Government colleagues.

Commencement of Legislation

Ceisteanna (178)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Ceist:

178. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form those Acts currently in force for which he has lead responsibility that have parts or sections yet to be formally commenced; the details or purpose of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32002/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The information requested is not readily available in my Department and its compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and effort. However, on the website of the Irish Statute Book, www.irishstatutebook.ie, there is an “Acts of the Oireachtas” page provides access to each Act. Once a particular Act is selected, details of the commencement status of each section of the Act are accessible by selecting the “Legislative Directory Entry” link.

Emergency Aeromedical Service

Ceisteanna (179)

James Bannon

Ceist:

179. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Defence the discussions his Department has had with the Department of Health to make the Emergency Aeromedical Service in Athlone, County Westmeath, permanent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31898/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

In June 2012, following agreement between my Department and the Department of Health, a pilot Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) service commenced operations. The service is operated by the Air Corps out of Custume Barracks, Athlone. An evaluation of the pilot service was undertaken last year by an inter-agency Audit and Evaluation Group and a Report submitted to the then Minister for Health for his consideration. The then Minister for Health accepted the Report’s recommendations and a Working Group, chaired by the Department of Health and comprising representatives from my Department, was established to examine options for the provision of an EAS service into the future. The Group has met on five occasions and I understand that work has commenced on producing a Report which will be presented to the Minister for Health in due course. Meanwhile, my Department has agreed to extend the Air Corps’ participation in the pilot service in order to allow time for the Working Group to complete its work.

Defence Forces Recruitment

Ceisteanna (180)

James Bannon

Ceist:

180. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Defence if he will consider reviewing the age limit upwards for persons entering the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31899/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

The 2000 White Paper on Defence and the earlier Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan both identified the requirement to address the age profile in the Defence Forces. A key element in military life is the need for personnel to maintain a level of fitness for combat readiness. This requirement must be balanced with the need to retain experience and expertise, particularly at managerial level in the Defence Forces.

The upper age limit for enlistment in the Army is under 25 years of age on the closing date for receipt of applications for enlistment, and for the Naval Service it is under 27 years of age on the closing date for receipt of applications for enlistment. These limits are determined on the basis that the essential functions of the Permanent Defence Force requires that its members be composed of able-bodied personnel of an age which is commensurate with the functional requirements of the organisation. The Military Authorities have advised that these upper age limits have proven suitable for the requirements for a modern Defence Forces which is actively involved in operations at home and on Peace Support Operations overseas. I am satisfied that the existing upper age requirements for recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force are appropriate.